Sarah Gravett | University of Johannesburg, South Africa (original) (raw)

Papers by Sarah Gravett

Research paper thumbnail of Educators' perceptions of the school as a learning organization in the Vanderbijlpark-North District, South Africa

South African Journal of Education, May 1, 2002

This article outlines the principal findings of research that sought to provide a comprehensive u... more This article outlines the principal findings of research that sought to provide a comprehensive understanding of schools as learning organisations in the Vanderbijl Park-North District of the Gauteng province of South Africa. The quantitative research methodology used was of major importance in obtaining data that were grounded largely on the theoretical framework of learning organisations as well as in the personal experiences of educators and principals. The purpose of the research was to investigate the essential features of learning organizations, the perceptions of educators in respect of these essential features and the guidelines that could be provided for schools to cope with the demands of continuous learning and adaptation in a turbulent environment. A major finding was that the learning disciplines of personal mastery, mental models, a shared vision, teamwork and systems thinking were fundamental to two factors: namely, a collaborative culture and personal beliefs about educator commitment. The school can therefore function as a learning organization by cultivating a climate where a collaborative culture and beliefs that stimulate educator commitment can develop.

Research paper thumbnail of Learning at home for Grade 1 learners in disadvantaged communities: Insights from the Sandbox@Home COVID-19-response intervention

South African Journal of Childhood Education, 2022

Background: The spread of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) has escalated the need for stud... more Background: The spread of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) has escalated the need for studying the home learning environment (HLE). With learners spending more time at home, understanding about learning at home, especially in disadvantaged communities, is paramount.Aim: The aim of this research study was to explore the HLE for foundation phase learners by analysing data from an intervention that aspired to support organised learning at home during the COVID-19 pandemic.Setting: This research study was conducted telephonically with families from 11 schools (10 in the Waterberg district, Limpopo and one in Soweto, Gauteng).Methods: Qualitative data (recorded phone interviews) were collected from caregivers and learners from 17 households. The interview recordings were transcribed and translated into English. The constant comparative method of data analysis was used to analyse interview transcripts.Results: Three themes emerged from the analysis: (1) challenges of learning at ho...

Research paper thumbnail of Rankings, politics, geography and the global knowledge economy

Routledge eBooks, Feb 17, 2021

Research paper thumbnail of Lesson design in pre-service teacher education

Routledge eBooks, May 27, 2022

Research paper thumbnail of Educators' perceptions of the school as a learning organization in the Vanderbijlpark-North District, South Africa

South African Journal of Education, May 1, 2002

This article outlines the principal findings of research that sought to provide a comprehensive u... more This article outlines the principal findings of research that sought to provide a comprehensive understanding of schools as learning organisations in the Vanderbijl Park-North District of the Gauteng province of South Africa. The quantitative research methodology used was of major importance in obtaining data that were grounded largely on the theoretical framework of learning organisations as well as in the personal experiences of educators and principals. The purpose of the research was to investigate the essential features of learning organizations, the perceptions of educators in respect of these essential features and the guidelines that could be provided for schools to cope with the demands of continuous learning and adaptation in a turbulent environment. A major finding was that the learning disciplines of personal mastery, mental models, a shared vision, teamwork and systems thinking were fundamental to two factors: namely, a collaborative culture and personal beliefs about educator commitment. The school can therefore function as a learning organization by cultivating a climate where a collaborative culture and beliefs that stimulate educator commitment can develop.

Research paper thumbnail of Learning at home for Grade 1 learners in disadvantaged communities: Insights from the Sandbox@Home COVID-19-response intervention

South African Journal of Childhood Education, Feb 21, 2022

Like many other countries, the South African government imposed lockdown regulations in March 202... more Like many other countries, the South African government imposed lockdown regulations in March 2020 as a way to mitigate the rapid spread of COVID-19. These regulations included a complete shutdown of primary, secondary and special schools for over 2 months (Parker, Morris & Hofmeyr 2020:6). Once schools reopened , additional school days were lost because of the implementation of a phased-in return to schools and rotational timetabling. The phased-in return and rotational timetabling meant that not all learners would be allowed on the school premises at the same time to maintain social distancing protocols (DBE 2020:9-12). Some learners were in Background: The spread of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) has escalated the need for studying the home learning environment (HLE). With learners spending more time at home, understanding about learning at home, especially in disadvantaged communities, is paramount. Aim: The aim of this research study was to explore the HLE for foundation phase learners by analysing data from an intervention that aspired to support organised learning at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. Setting: This research study was conducted telephonically with families from 11 schools (10 in the Waterberg district, Limpopo and one in Soweto, Gauteng). Methods: Qualitative data (recorded phone interviews) were collected from caregivers and learners from 17 households. The interview recordings were transcribed and translated into English. The constant comparative method of data analysis was used to analyse interview transcripts. Results: Three themes emerged from the analysis: (1) challenges of learning at home, (2) perceived benefits of learning at home and (3) the desire to continue with the programme even after schools reopened. The data showed that having access to learning material facilitated learning at home. Additionally, caregivers noted benefits to learners from engaging in learning activities. However, there were also challenges in facilitating learning at home. These include caregivers not following the learning guidelines provided. Conclusion: Caregivers appreciated having access to learning material and were willing to facilitate learning at home. However, the challenges they faced resulted in them not executing the programme effectively. Future studies and interventions should explore how to provide adequate and accessible support to caregivers.

Research paper thumbnail of The development of professional identity of university lecturers

Page 1. THE DEVELOPMENT OF PROFESSIONAL IDENTITY OF UNIVERSITY LECTURERS by DEBORAH CATHERINE LEE... more Page 1. THE DEVELOPMENT OF PROFESSIONAL IDENTITY OF UNIVERSITY LECTURERS by DEBORAH CATHERINE LEES MINI-DISSERTATION Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MAGISTER EDUCATIONIS in ...

Research paper thumbnail of ‘Lies, damned lies and statistics’

Routledge eBooks, Feb 17, 2021

Research paper thumbnail of Mentoring student teachers

Research paper thumbnail of Preparing pre-service teachers to use guided play as a core pedagogy in Grade R

Routledge eBooks, May 27, 2022

Research paper thumbnail of The history and development of global rankings

Research paper thumbnail of Lesson design in pre-service teacher education

Future-Proofing Teacher Education

Research paper thumbnail of Learning-centered lesson design and learning about teaching in a pre-service teacher education course

Research paper thumbnail of The Creation of a Context Conducive to Student Learning

South African Journal of Higher Education, 1995

Research paper thumbnail of Creating a context conducive to creative learning in a coding club

Routledge eBooks, May 27, 2022

Research paper thumbnail of Transformatoriese leer by skoolhoofde

Transformative learning in school principals. The aim of this qualitative study was to explore th... more Transformative learning in school principals. The aim of this qualitative study was to explore the meaning making process involved in transformative learning as experienced by school principals within a changing socio-cultural context. We argued that the political changes in the post-apartheid South Africa would cause a disparate experience for and challenge the perspectives of many Afrikaner school principals. This experience could trigger perspective transformation - the transformation of an individual's meaning structures, resulting in a new perspective. The study revealed a transformative learning process similar to that proposed by Mezirow, beginning with a disorienting dilemma, followed by varied reactions, catalyst events, exploring and trying out of new roles and the integration of the new perspective into the participants' lives. The actual meaning the school principals attached to the changes in their perspectives is linked to a sense of increased personal empowerm...

Research paper thumbnail of The context for the development of higher education ranking systems (HERS)

Research paper thumbnail of The Use of Narrative as a Means to Investigate First Year Student Identity Construction

EDULEARN19 Proceedings, 2019

Commencing university is a bewildering process for many students who are being labelled in variou... more Commencing university is a bewildering process for many students who are being labelled in various ways depending on how they fare academically and socially. Studies on student transition into higher education focus on the challenges students encounter, how they make sense of their new environments and the importance of integrating new students successfully to prevent early departure. Sfard and Prusak (2005:14) state that the traditional parameters of identity deal mostly with character, nature and personality and how these are connected with aspects of belief, attitudes and conceptions. They further clarify that although the term ‘identity’ previously emanated from mostly psychological discourses, it now inhabits the research spaces in many social and humanistic sciences. This is due to the sociocultural turn in the human sciences. They equate identities with stories about persons, indicating that identities do not find their expression in stories, but rather that identity is stori...

Research paper thumbnail of Lies, damned lies, and statistics …

Annals of Emergency Medicine, 2004

Homicide and suicide risks associated with firearms in the home: a national case-control study. W... more Homicide and suicide risks associated with firearms in the home: a national case-control study. Wiebe DJ. Ann Emerg Med. 2003; 41(6):771-82.

Research paper thumbnail of A framework for initial teacher education in an uncertain and fast-changing world

Routledge eBooks, May 27, 2022

Research paper thumbnail of Educators' perceptions of the school as a learning organization in the Vanderbijlpark-North District, South Africa

South African Journal of Education, May 1, 2002

This article outlines the principal findings of research that sought to provide a comprehensive u... more This article outlines the principal findings of research that sought to provide a comprehensive understanding of schools as learning organisations in the Vanderbijl Park-North District of the Gauteng province of South Africa. The quantitative research methodology used was of major importance in obtaining data that were grounded largely on the theoretical framework of learning organisations as well as in the personal experiences of educators and principals. The purpose of the research was to investigate the essential features of learning organizations, the perceptions of educators in respect of these essential features and the guidelines that could be provided for schools to cope with the demands of continuous learning and adaptation in a turbulent environment. A major finding was that the learning disciplines of personal mastery, mental models, a shared vision, teamwork and systems thinking were fundamental to two factors: namely, a collaborative culture and personal beliefs about educator commitment. The school can therefore function as a learning organization by cultivating a climate where a collaborative culture and beliefs that stimulate educator commitment can develop.

Research paper thumbnail of Learning at home for Grade 1 learners in disadvantaged communities: Insights from the Sandbox@Home COVID-19-response intervention

South African Journal of Childhood Education, 2022

Background: The spread of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) has escalated the need for stud... more Background: The spread of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) has escalated the need for studying the home learning environment (HLE). With learners spending more time at home, understanding about learning at home, especially in disadvantaged communities, is paramount.Aim: The aim of this research study was to explore the HLE for foundation phase learners by analysing data from an intervention that aspired to support organised learning at home during the COVID-19 pandemic.Setting: This research study was conducted telephonically with families from 11 schools (10 in the Waterberg district, Limpopo and one in Soweto, Gauteng).Methods: Qualitative data (recorded phone interviews) were collected from caregivers and learners from 17 households. The interview recordings were transcribed and translated into English. The constant comparative method of data analysis was used to analyse interview transcripts.Results: Three themes emerged from the analysis: (1) challenges of learning at ho...

Research paper thumbnail of Rankings, politics, geography and the global knowledge economy

Routledge eBooks, Feb 17, 2021

Research paper thumbnail of Lesson design in pre-service teacher education

Routledge eBooks, May 27, 2022

Research paper thumbnail of Educators' perceptions of the school as a learning organization in the Vanderbijlpark-North District, South Africa

South African Journal of Education, May 1, 2002

This article outlines the principal findings of research that sought to provide a comprehensive u... more This article outlines the principal findings of research that sought to provide a comprehensive understanding of schools as learning organisations in the Vanderbijl Park-North District of the Gauteng province of South Africa. The quantitative research methodology used was of major importance in obtaining data that were grounded largely on the theoretical framework of learning organisations as well as in the personal experiences of educators and principals. The purpose of the research was to investigate the essential features of learning organizations, the perceptions of educators in respect of these essential features and the guidelines that could be provided for schools to cope with the demands of continuous learning and adaptation in a turbulent environment. A major finding was that the learning disciplines of personal mastery, mental models, a shared vision, teamwork and systems thinking were fundamental to two factors: namely, a collaborative culture and personal beliefs about educator commitment. The school can therefore function as a learning organization by cultivating a climate where a collaborative culture and beliefs that stimulate educator commitment can develop.

Research paper thumbnail of Learning at home for Grade 1 learners in disadvantaged communities: Insights from the Sandbox@Home COVID-19-response intervention

South African Journal of Childhood Education, Feb 21, 2022

Like many other countries, the South African government imposed lockdown regulations in March 202... more Like many other countries, the South African government imposed lockdown regulations in March 2020 as a way to mitigate the rapid spread of COVID-19. These regulations included a complete shutdown of primary, secondary and special schools for over 2 months (Parker, Morris & Hofmeyr 2020:6). Once schools reopened , additional school days were lost because of the implementation of a phased-in return to schools and rotational timetabling. The phased-in return and rotational timetabling meant that not all learners would be allowed on the school premises at the same time to maintain social distancing protocols (DBE 2020:9-12). Some learners were in Background: The spread of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) has escalated the need for studying the home learning environment (HLE). With learners spending more time at home, understanding about learning at home, especially in disadvantaged communities, is paramount. Aim: The aim of this research study was to explore the HLE for foundation phase learners by analysing data from an intervention that aspired to support organised learning at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. Setting: This research study was conducted telephonically with families from 11 schools (10 in the Waterberg district, Limpopo and one in Soweto, Gauteng). Methods: Qualitative data (recorded phone interviews) were collected from caregivers and learners from 17 households. The interview recordings were transcribed and translated into English. The constant comparative method of data analysis was used to analyse interview transcripts. Results: Three themes emerged from the analysis: (1) challenges of learning at home, (2) perceived benefits of learning at home and (3) the desire to continue with the programme even after schools reopened. The data showed that having access to learning material facilitated learning at home. Additionally, caregivers noted benefits to learners from engaging in learning activities. However, there were also challenges in facilitating learning at home. These include caregivers not following the learning guidelines provided. Conclusion: Caregivers appreciated having access to learning material and were willing to facilitate learning at home. However, the challenges they faced resulted in them not executing the programme effectively. Future studies and interventions should explore how to provide adequate and accessible support to caregivers.

Research paper thumbnail of The development of professional identity of university lecturers

Page 1. THE DEVELOPMENT OF PROFESSIONAL IDENTITY OF UNIVERSITY LECTURERS by DEBORAH CATHERINE LEE... more Page 1. THE DEVELOPMENT OF PROFESSIONAL IDENTITY OF UNIVERSITY LECTURERS by DEBORAH CATHERINE LEES MINI-DISSERTATION Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MAGISTER EDUCATIONIS in ...

Research paper thumbnail of ‘Lies, damned lies and statistics’

Routledge eBooks, Feb 17, 2021

Research paper thumbnail of Mentoring student teachers

Research paper thumbnail of Preparing pre-service teachers to use guided play as a core pedagogy in Grade R

Routledge eBooks, May 27, 2022

Research paper thumbnail of The history and development of global rankings

Research paper thumbnail of Lesson design in pre-service teacher education

Future-Proofing Teacher Education

Research paper thumbnail of Learning-centered lesson design and learning about teaching in a pre-service teacher education course

Research paper thumbnail of The Creation of a Context Conducive to Student Learning

South African Journal of Higher Education, 1995

Research paper thumbnail of Creating a context conducive to creative learning in a coding club

Routledge eBooks, May 27, 2022

Research paper thumbnail of Transformatoriese leer by skoolhoofde

Transformative learning in school principals. The aim of this qualitative study was to explore th... more Transformative learning in school principals. The aim of this qualitative study was to explore the meaning making process involved in transformative learning as experienced by school principals within a changing socio-cultural context. We argued that the political changes in the post-apartheid South Africa would cause a disparate experience for and challenge the perspectives of many Afrikaner school principals. This experience could trigger perspective transformation - the transformation of an individual's meaning structures, resulting in a new perspective. The study revealed a transformative learning process similar to that proposed by Mezirow, beginning with a disorienting dilemma, followed by varied reactions, catalyst events, exploring and trying out of new roles and the integration of the new perspective into the participants' lives. The actual meaning the school principals attached to the changes in their perspectives is linked to a sense of increased personal empowerm...

Research paper thumbnail of The context for the development of higher education ranking systems (HERS)

Research paper thumbnail of The Use of Narrative as a Means to Investigate First Year Student Identity Construction

EDULEARN19 Proceedings, 2019

Commencing university is a bewildering process for many students who are being labelled in variou... more Commencing university is a bewildering process for many students who are being labelled in various ways depending on how they fare academically and socially. Studies on student transition into higher education focus on the challenges students encounter, how they make sense of their new environments and the importance of integrating new students successfully to prevent early departure. Sfard and Prusak (2005:14) state that the traditional parameters of identity deal mostly with character, nature and personality and how these are connected with aspects of belief, attitudes and conceptions. They further clarify that although the term ‘identity’ previously emanated from mostly psychological discourses, it now inhabits the research spaces in many social and humanistic sciences. This is due to the sociocultural turn in the human sciences. They equate identities with stories about persons, indicating that identities do not find their expression in stories, but rather that identity is stori...

Research paper thumbnail of Lies, damned lies, and statistics …

Annals of Emergency Medicine, 2004

Homicide and suicide risks associated with firearms in the home: a national case-control study. W... more Homicide and suicide risks associated with firearms in the home: a national case-control study. Wiebe DJ. Ann Emerg Med. 2003; 41(6):771-82.

Research paper thumbnail of A framework for initial teacher education in an uncertain and fast-changing world

Routledge eBooks, May 27, 2022